Books we loved in July 2026

A fun and interactive board book taking little ones through some of the simple features of a farm, using a multiple choice question and answer format. 

A brilliantly fun board book about dinosaurs with loads of interactive mechanisms to enjoy!

Bear can’t find Pierre! Can you help Bear? A delightful rhyming story with an interactive element of spotting the penguin on the page. 

It’s night time and Baby Giraffe is asleep – but what happens when they wake up everyone in the building? A fun flap book with a difference.

Luna’s school sports day is almost here, and she has everything ready for it. The only problem is she’s not sure she’ll be any good at it. With the support of her parents and her best friend, Luna tries a little bit of everything and discovers there’s more to sport than winning or losing. 

A child is convinced that their neighbour is keeping a dinosaur as a pet, but none of the adults agree! Find out who is right in this fun, rhyming picture book, with heaps of dinosaurs to spot in the illustrations. 

Hari the tiger must journey through the jungle and avoid the dangers of deforestation to find the mythical Kingdom of Tigers. A beautiful picture book that covers themes of habitat loss sensitively.

Approved by an Early Years consultant and teacher, and complete with school readiness tips for parents and carers, this picture book is a perfect read for children in the run to starting Reception class at school. 

A wonderful book to help little ones understand different families, and its Ahlberg-esque rhyme would also make it a lovely bedtime read.

Ava’s tortoise has gone missing! Can she bring him home? A sweet story that’s ideal for beginner readers.

A funny spoof guide to owning a pet, with detail-filled illustrations. A picture book to enjoy together.

Hanna finds numbers tricky to understand. Then Help arrives… A gently uplifting picture book that reassures children that it’s okay to ask for help – and lovely to help others. 

Chris Naylor-Ballesteros’s poignant story about how we treat those unfamiliar to us – and how it feels to be a stranger – is a beautiful and thoughtful tale about belonging and home. 

This beautiful story about a boy and his Nana acknowledges that families don’t always look how you’d expect, but that love is forever. 

Set sail with Bella and her new crew! But she outwit the sneaky captain of a rival ship? Gentle fun on the seas, with fantastic illustrations in blue.

The party plans are going wrong for Twiggy the log monster! Will she ask for help from her friends to avoid another monster muddle? Bursting with energy and detail, this highly illustrated chapter book is full of fun.

A light-hearted yet informative guide to animal families which explores a slightly more unusual facet of nature and biodiversity, highlighting also how each animal family fits into their environment. 

Join the animal detectives and solve mysteries from the animal world, such as who stole the sugar from the cafe? An engaging non-fiction fact book with colour illustrations, speech bubbles and cheeky animal ​‘criminals’. 

Korobá and her friends investigate the disappearance of a kolo money box in their fishing village of Makoko in this beautifuly illustrated graphic novel.

Glam longs to meet her Familiar, a magical creature who will reveal her true nature. But when a chaotic bearded dragon named Beardy appears, Glam is sure there has been a mistake. This hilarious fantasy adventure celebrates being true to yourself and is full of dynamic illustrations. 

Demise is the best EVER skeleton guard – according to him. But when a blob vomits corrosive material everywhere thanks to him, he and his supervisor, Mort, are plunged into a mad, dangerous adventure. A hilarious diary with characters from Greek myths and lots of illustrations.

When Ayesha’s wishes start coming true, she wishes that Nikki was her best friend again. But will that really make them both happy? A charming story about friendship and being true to yourself – with a sprinkle of magic! 

When Ani follows her neighbour Nando on one of his secret, nocturnal excursions, she meets a remarkable creature who captures her heart. Written in lyrical free verse, this tender novel skilfully explores themes of friendship, nature and the complex emotions of a family break-up. 

When Molly moves into her new foster home, she discovers a hidden world of sprites, goblins, spells and potions. This gripping, magical adventure, with elements of Irish folklore woven throughout, celebrates friendship, courage and acceptance. 

12-year-old Drew must take on an impossible maze filled with challenges and dangers to try and save his sister. A twisting, action-packed and interactive middle-grade adventure.

Tom meets Leesha at London’s Natural History Museum and the pair plunge into a fast-paced, magical adventure to stop a gang of ruthless thieves from stealing mythical artefacts. Seamlessly blending history, magic, friendship and courage, this is a thrilling page-turner. 

Set in a Catholic girls’ boarding school in rural Ireland, this cosy crime adventure is awash with memorable characters and the usual serving of false leads and red herrings.

A masterful piece of storytelling from an award-winning author who specialises in exciting and believable outdoor adventure stories with humanity at their heart. Featuring a neurodivergent lead character and the exposure of a coercive/​controlling relationship.

Taut, adrenalin-fuelled escapades make this nail-biting, sci-fi thriller a genuine page-turner which poses a question about what it means to be human in a world of intelligent machines. A thought-provoking and fascinating read perfect for gamers, that will spark conversations about AI and how we want it to be used. 

When a school trip goes badly wrong and they are caught in catastrophic floods, can Jelly and Lincoln win a battle against nature and reach safety? 

The start of secondary school has been hard for Hattie. Her best friend has found someone else, and now a family friend Seren has come to stay and she feels pushed out. Follow her as she negotiates these challenges in this warm, witty and accessible illustrated book.